The Dominion. FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1919. THE MISSION OF THE EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 268, 8 August 1919, Page 6

The Dominion. FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1919. THE MISSION OF THE EMPIRE

At a time when some men are almost afraid to look ahead, it is heartening to hear such a note of courage and resolve as was struck by General Smuts when he addressed his countrymen a day or two ago at Cape Town. The speech in which he dealt with war-effects and with the great and momentous changes that are imminent in the world was above, all things a rousing call to action—a call that deserves a ready hearing all over the Empire and beyond its frontiers, Of the changes that the war has wrought in the world, or made inevitable, none certainly _ is of greater moment to humanity than that which the gifted Boer statesman so pointedly emphasised on this occasion. The essential outcomo of the war 'could hardly be summed up better than in the picture he drew of Europe in decline, ''not only relatively, but intrinsically," and the newer-settled countries of the world faced by a spacious opportunity, "a tremendous chance, to use his own terse phrase. The chance is that of rapidly compassing a splendid growth and development-, and taking, on the noblest grounds, a position of commanding iniluence in the world. The European nations which have so long swayed the_ destinies of mankind were bound in any case to declino relatively in importance as the world progressed, but the war has done much to bring matters to a head and to quicken 1 the process of change. New countriqs as well as those of older growth have emerged from the war bearing heavy burdens, but even in a narrow view they are incomparably better placed to make good the losses of war and re-establish their prosperity. The strain of war must needs tell far more _ heavily upon countries like Britain and France, which have attained something like their maximum development, than 'upon countries like the British Dominions, which retain an enormous capacity for growth. After-war problems in Britain and in other European countries are largely stated in the term "reconstruction." In the British Dominions the supremely important contributions to be made to the solution of these problems is expansion on right lines. As Prince Kropotkin once said, "the condition of the maintenance of life is its expansion." The difficulties and problems of the European nations aro formidably increased by tho limits set to their expansion. Because the British Dominions are a national estate in which there is almost indefinite scope for expansion, such burdens as tho war has imposed upon them are perhaps less important in that aspect than as a potent stimulus to growth. This rertainly does not mean that the course set for the Dominions is to wax fat in prosperity whilo the Mother Country sinks into poverty and insignificance. Tho Empire is a unity, and we! may believe with all confidence that it will hold together through the ages, if not as a close j kriit federation, at least as the. "league of free nations, co-oper-ating in all matters of defence, and taking counsel together in matters of foreign policy of which General Smuts has spoken. But it is equally evident that mighty forces are operating to shift the centre of gravity in the world. In the aftermath of the war there is bound to be a great exodus from Europe into countries where freer scope is to be found for human enterprise and activity, ' and it is with reference to these conditions that the policy of the Empire and its component units must- be shaped. What General Smuts has to say about the part the British Empire is called upon to play in a changing world ancl its immense preponderance, not only physical,' but moral, carrics tenfold weight, since it reflects the educated judgment of a convert oncc determinedly opposed to the Empire in armed strife, and not the instinctive faith of tho native-born. No one can suspect vainglory or distempered vision in his declaration that the Empire is far and away the most potent force for good or evil that has ever existed in the world. This is the considered testimony of one who is qualified to speak alike by a breadth of experience which few can boast and by rare qualities of insight and practical wisdom. There need be the less hesitation about accepting his estimate of _ tho Empire and its possibilities since it is much less a laudation than a confident appeal to the_ energy and resolution of the British nation.

If the British Empire is the most potent instrument foi- good or evil that has ever existed in' the world, .it is for the reason that within its

confines there is scope and opportunity for naticn-building on sounder and truer lines than have ever yet been applied. In a definite sense the immaturity and partial development of the Dominions arc a priceless asset, since in these conditions there is a magnificent opportunity of largely avoiding the mistake; which, older countries are struggling painfully to repair. Even the United States is not faced by such an opportunity of leading the march of progress in the world as is the British Empire.

It is not a failing of the British people to walk with their heads in the clouds, dreaming of a great future. But in the most severely practical outlook there is a choice to be made between building such a future and wasting prospects and opportunities in. paltry internal dissensions to our own infinite loss and that of the world. In this country, and in every part of the Empire, an incentive to a loyal union of effort in constructive development appears not only in the fact that this will make for internal comfort and prosperity, but in the vastly greater fact that it is in this way, and no other, that tho Empire will fulfil its appointed mission oi setting new standards in nationhood and leading the world in peaceful progress.